Drier felt for paper making machines



Patented June 25, 1935 uNlr-Eo STATES DRIER FELT FOR PAPER- MAKING-MACHINES Tom MiIn'eaTLachute Mills, Quebec, Canada,

assignor of one-half to Mills, Quebec, Canada Ayers Limited, LachuteApplication Jul 14, 1934, Serial No. 735,160

' 4 Claims. (o1.'24 33) This invention relates to drier felts for papermaking machines and the object is to provide improved means for joiningthe ends of a drier felt to provide a strong andsatisfactory joint thatwill not fail when the felt is used on modern high speed Fourdriniermachines.

The ends of a Fourdrinier drier felt are usually overlapped and joinedtogether by stitching or riveting. This requires considerable time andlabor and produces a type of joint that is unsatisfactory in manyrespects. It is desirable that the drier felt should present a smoothand continuous flat paper carrying surface substantially free ofprojections. From this standpoint alone the present method of fasteningthe ends of the drier felt in overlapping relation is objectionablesince one of the overlapping ends constitutes an undesirable projectionon the paper carrying surface of the felt. When secured together bystitching the overlapping ends frequently become detached since thestitching will not long withstand the wear to which it is subjected,this being particularly true when the felt is used on modern high speedFourdrinier machines. When the overlapping ends of the felt are securedtogether by riveting it frequently happens that one or more of therivets become detached and cause considerable damage to the paper and tothe drier rolls. In some instances detached rivets have been carriedthrough to the calender rolls. A further objection to the stitching orriveting of the ends of the felt in overlapping relation is that theseends cannot be readily detached when it is desired to replace the felt.

According to the present invention, the foregoing difiiculties areeliminated by providing the ends of the felt with integral interfittingloops through which one or more retaining keys are passed to secure theloops in their interfitting relation. The loops are formed by folding,and slotting the ends of the felt so that the folded portions lie at theinner side of the felt when the two sets of loops are secured togetherin their interfitting relation. This construction enables the two setsof loops to be secured together in interfltting relation with theirouter sides substantially flush with the outer or paper carrying surfaceof the felt. In addition, it provides a joint that will last as long asthe felt itself and which enables the two ends of the felt to be readilyseparated by removal of the retaining key holding the loops in theirinterlocking relatlon.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description of this inventionreference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein- Fig 1 is aperspective view of the two ends of a drier felt joined together inaccordance with this invention, one of the interfitting loops of thefelt being broken away to expose the key holding the two sets of loopsin their interfitting relation.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the retaining key and the two ends ofthe felt as these parts appear prior to the making of the joint.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view showing a slight modification inwhich two retaining keys I are employed.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, 5 and 6 designate the twoends of the felt which are to be joined together. The end 5 presentsintegral projecting loops 1 adapted to be fitted between similar loops 8projecting from the end 6. The two sets of loops are fitted together asshown in Fig. 1 and secured against separation by passing a retainingkey 9 therethrough. This key is preferably a relatively thin flat barhaving its longitudinal edges rounded off to eliminate sharp edges thatmight cut through the loops. To prevent casual displacement, this key ispreferably provided with openings In so that it may be stitched to theloops 1 and 8 as indicated at H and i2 in Fig. 1. The manner in whichthe loops 1 and 8 are formed as integral portions of the felt is clearlyindicated in Fig. 2. As here shown each end of the felt is of two plyconstruction, one ply being the reversely folded flap M which isfastened flat against the inner surface of the felt by suitable lines ofstitching indicated at l5. After the flaps l4 are folded and stitched inplace the folded edge portions of the felt are slotted, as at I6, toprovide the knuckles l and 8.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a slight modification in which two retaining keys9 are passed through the interfitting loops 1 and 8 and secured in placeby stitching indicated at l8 and I 9. Where additional key strength isrequired it is more con venient to pass two keys, one after the other,through the loops 1 and 8, than to insert a single key of the sameoverall thickness. Another advantage is that one key may be used as ashim to take up looseness between the previously inserted key and theknuckles.

Particular attention is called to the fact that both of the flaps M aredisposed at the inner side of the felt. This enables the loops 1 and 8to be fitted together so that the outer sides of these loops aresubstantially flush with the outer or paper carrying surface of thefelt, thus enabling the continuous flat paper carrying surface to bemaintained throughout the entire length of the felt. Another advantageto be noted is that the metal retaining key or keys used in place of thestitching and riveting heretofore empoyed are not subject to wear bycontact with the drier rolls since they are completely enclosed by theloops 1 and 8 which, being integral parts of the felt, will last as longas the felt itself.

When a felt, having the ends joined in accordance with this invention,is to be removed for repair or replacement this may be quickly andconveniently accomplished by cutting the stitching holding the retainingkey or keys in place and.

then withdrawing the latter to permit separation of the loops 7 and 8.The stitching of the retaining key or keys to the loops 1 and 8, whiledesirable to prevent possibility of casual displacement of the key orkeys, is not absolutely essential and may be omitted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A drier felt having end portions turned back and fastened to the bodyof the felt to provide integral tubular terminals, each of which isslotted to provide a plurality of laterally spaced fabric loops, theloops of one terminal being fitted between the loops of the remainingterminal, and a retaining key passing through the two sets of loops andserving to hold them in their interfitting relation, said retaining keybeing fastened to certain of the loops.

2. A drier felt as claimed in claim 1 in which the retaining key isstitched to certain of the loops.

3. A drier felt having end portions turned back and fastened to the bodyof the felt to provide integral tubular terminals, each of saidterminals being slotted to provide a series of loops fitted between theloops of the remaining terminal and a pair of retaining keys passingthrough said loops and serving to hold them in their interfittingrelation, said keys comprising two relatively thin and wide fiat stripsof metal flatly engaged with each other.

4. A drier felt as claimed in claim 3 in which the retaining keys areprovided with registering openings and are stitched to certain of saidloops by stitching passing through said openings.

' TOM MILNES.

